Device for elevating water.



No. 779,619. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

I e. K. OSBORN. DEVICE FOR. ELEVATING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1'7, 1903.

3 SEEBTS-BHEIBT 1.

; I i- W'inesses: /7 [110911 or g /i, Geo/:96 K0560? No. 779,619. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905 G. K. OSBDRN.

DEVICE FOR ELEVATING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor, 9 %/Z. Gear 6 ff. Osborn PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

' G. K. OSBORN.

DEVICE FOR ELEVATING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' UNITED STATES Patented January 10, 1905.

GEORGE K. OSBORN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

-DEVICE FOR ELEVATING WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,619, dated January 10, 1905.

Application filed November 17,1903. Serial No. 181,537.

To m whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. OSBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Elevating W ater; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for elevating water, and more especially to that class of water-elevators operating on the principle of Heros fountain, as first applied successfully in 1746 by H. VVirtZ, of Zurich, in his so-called spiral pump, a device which consists of a spiral tube one end of which is enlarged to form a scoop, while its other end connects with a stand-pipe. The operation of the device is briefly as follows: The spiral tube being immersed in a body of water is rotated by means of a belt or chain, causing the scoop to take up a quantity of water which while the device revolves will pass along the spiral tube, driving the air before it. During the next revolution air and water both will enter the tube. The water will be driven along the tube as before, but will be separated from the first body of water by a body of air. This is repeated during each revolution. The pressure exerted by the column of water in one side of each turn of the spiral tube is proportioned to its length and transmitted through the column of air between them to that of the next turn. The combined forces of both are then made to act by the revolution of the tube on the third column, and so on until the accumulated force is communicated to the water in the standpipe, raising it. The height to which the water may be elevated is proportionate to the number of turns employed in forming the conduit.

Although my device operates on the same principle as the one described above, it varies in construction, as well as in its being combined with new elements, all of which enable me to attain my objects, which are, first, to produce a device for elevating waterwhich being simple and durable in construction may be easily repaired and manufactured at low cost; second, to produce a water-elevator which may be successfully operated at the least possible expense; third, to produce a device for elevating water which will raise water to a higher elevation with less power than has been accomplished heretofore by similar devices. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken through the device, shown immersed in a body of water; Fig. 2., an enlarged view, partly in section, of means employed to obtain water-tight joints; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view of mode employed in constructing the spiral conduit; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the air-distributing device, showing application of non-corrodable metal; Fig. 5, a front view, on a smaller scale, looking in direction of arrow 10 in Fig. 1, the dipper being shown in section; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the device; Fig. 7, a section, on a smaller scale. taken along line 7 7, Fig. 1, looking in direction of arrow Y; Fig. 8, a crosssection taken along line 8 8, Fig. 1, part of diaphragms being broken away; Fig. 9, a diagrammatical section through one of the turns, showing position of water, Fig. 10 showing a cross-section through the conduit having curved or concave sides; and Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14:, 15, and 16 show diagrammatical section through the conduit and discharge-chamber, showing different positions occupied by the latter during one revolution of the conduit.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

Let 5 designate the continuous helicoidal conduit, rectangular in section, whose several convolutions adjoin each other, the whole resembling two concentric cylinders joined together by a continuous spiral partition 6, which winds in the annular space between them. Both the inner and outer cylinders are formed by helicoidal flat strips of metal 7 and 8, the turns of which overlap each other and which are secured to flanges 6, with which the helicoidal partition 6 is provided, by bolts or rivets which pass through the laps of the adjoining turns of strips 7 and 8 and through the flange placed between them. The helicoidal conduit thus obtained is closed on its sides by suitable plates 9 and 9, thus preventing water from entering inside the inner cylinder and greatly increasing its buoyancy, which is of especial value in the pump when immersed in the water, as it will take most of the weight of the machine off the bearings in which the shaft runs, thereby materially increasing its efficiency. The flanged partition 6, as well as strips 7 and 8, are usually composed of several sections (not shown in the drawings) to facilitate their construction. Fig. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, the relative position of the adjoining turns of the plates 7 and 8 and flange 6, which arrangement, besides giving great rigidity to the device, will prevent leakage from one convolu tion into the other, facilitating repairs and enabling the operator to quickly detect defective points. For the sake of greater rigidity parts of my device may be made of curved metal, such as shown in Fig. 10. In the drawings I have illustrated the conduit making two complete convolutions; but it will be understood that as many convolutions may be employed as desired. The outer extremity 6 of the conduit is provided with a dipper 10, by which the water is fed into the coil, and the last convolution of the conduit is turned inward toward the center of the device, the area of its cross-section being gradually increased as the conduit approaches the center until it has reached a point A in the edge of the discharge-opening 12 diametrically opposite the starting-point. Plate 7, forming the outside periphery of the conduit, is extended beyond point A and describes an arc around the discharge-opening and to a large extent concentric thereto until it has reached the inside periphery 8 of the turned-in portion 12 of the conduit, which it may follow to its point of termination. The partition 6 is shaped and turned to conform with the peripheral plates, thus forming together a conduit 12, which connects the main conduit 5 with the stand-pipe. For the sake of clearer explanation I have drawn a line a? :0, Fig. 7, which divides conduit 12 into two parts-namely, one, 12, extending from a line 2 2 (the upper level of the water) to line a m, and a second one, 12", extending above the line 00 m. The portion 12 contains, when the device is in the position illustrated in Fig. 7, Water, while part 12 contains air. Part 12 of conduit 12 is made sufliciently large to contain as much water as the eleven-twelfths part of an entire convolution of conduit 5, while the part 12 has a capacity equal to one-half 'of the volume of one convolution, which is the amount of either air or water contained therein. The proportions as described, Which have been arrived at after long and careful experimenting, are such that when the machine revolves the division-line between water and air will at all times be opposite the discharge-opening 12, so that there will be a continuous flow of both water and air into the stand-pipe instead of water and air entering in reciprocal succession, as is the case when the last coil is in direct communication with the stand-pipe. I

To demonstrate my theory, I refer to Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14:, 15, and 16, which diagrammatically show the conduit in the different positions occupied during certain periods of revolution. Thus Fig. 11 represents the conduit in the same position shown in Fig. 7, and Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 represent the conduit after it has revolved, respectively, during one-sixth, two-sixths, three-sixths, foursixths, and five-sixths of a complete revolution. In order to simplify my explanation, I have divided the conduit into twelve parts by drawing radial lines R, and it is supposed that the portions between each two radial lines in conduit 5, as well as in conduit 12, are equal. This is partly accomplished by enlarging the conduit 12- as it nears the center, as heretofore explained, and where the conduit 12 approaches close to the center this may be done by lateral enlargement. This last feature is not shown in the drawings, where the conduit 12 (see Fig. 1) has been represented as being of equal width throughout its extent. In all the diagrammatical views the proportions of the air and the Water in conduit 12 have been shown by the conventional shading of the water. Prior to commencing the revolution-of the conduit the part 12 has been filled with water. (See Fig. 11.) This is done in practice by revolving the machine several times before the operation commences. The moment the device revolves in the direction of the arrow both air and water flow out of the conduit into the stand-pipe, the opening to the latter being sufficiently large that the amount of water and air discharged is at all times equal to the amount taken in, which during one-sixth of a revolution will be equal to the contents of one-sixth of a convolution, half of which (onetwelfth) is water, while the other (one-twelfth) is air, said amounts being equal to the volume of that portion of either conduit comprised between each two of the radial lines R. For the sake of clearness in explanation I have called the parts of conduit 12 occupied by water W and the portions occupied by air Y. Thus it will be noticed that prior to beginning its revolution conduit 1.2 contains 111V 6Y, Fig. 11, or to give the amounts in succession, commencing at point A, 21V 6Y 91V. After having traversed one-sixth revolution one of each has been discharged through the standpipe, leaving the amount in 12 5Y 101/1 while at the same time 2Y has entered conduit 12 out of conduit 5, Fig. 12, thus making the respective amounts 1W 5Y 91V 2Y. After two-sixths of a revolution another Y and another WV have been discharged and QY have entered conduit 12 out of conduit 5, and the respective amounts in conduit 12 will thus be LY 9W tY, Fig. 13, and after three-sixths revolution 3Y 8W 6Y, Fig. 14, the latter being the entire volume of air contained in one convolution and which is followed by an equal amount of water. It will be noticed, however, that the air-space near the opening 12 can only contain 2Y, which has compelled one Y to bubble back through the water and join the air on the other side thereof, which makes the proportion of the elements in con- After four-sixths revolution, one more W and one more Y having been discharged, the proportion has become lY 71V 7 Y QVV, which is changed, however, to OY 6W 8Y 3W, as during the last movement 1Y has been forced to pass through the Water, while 1W has by force of gravity joined the amount of water just entered into conduit 12. Five-sixths of the revolution finds the proportion 51V 7Y 5V, which, again, on account of the water flowing over by force of gravity has been changed to WV 7Y 6W, and when the entire revolution has been completed and the device has once more reached the position shown in Fig. 11 the proportion which should be 3W 6Y 8V is, for same reasons mentioned above, 21 V 6Y 91V, or six parts of air and twelve parts of water, which was the proportion when commencing the revolution. Owing to the constant increase in density of the bodies of air in the conduit as they get farther away from the inlet and nearer the stand-pipe, as well as to the weight of the water in the stand-pipe, there is a constant back pressure toward the inlet, which is greatly augmented by the tendency of the compressed air to bubble backward toward the preceding body of less density,which, if it were allowed to pass unhindered through the bodies of water, would result in its carrying quantities of water with it from one bodyto the other,which would quickly result in aconstant backward flow of water, which greatly diminishes the efficiency of the elevator. To diminish this loss as much as possible, I prevent the air from mixing with the bulk of the water when bubbling backward by rounding the inside periphery of the conduit, as heretofore described, and by providing the conduit throughout its extent with a helicoidal V-shaped partition 13, the sides of which are preferably made concave. Partition 13 is secured to the sides of the conduit by brackets 13 or other suitable means. It is located close to the inner peripheral side 8 of the conduit, which is concave in form and which, in conjunction with the open side of the partition, forms a channel F, through which air may stream backward from one body of air to the other, increasing the amount of air between two bodies of water without increasing its bulk and without carrying the water with it. Partition 13 being less in width than the conduit, a passage is left on each side by which air or water may enter the channel F.

Fig. 9 shows a diagrammatical section of'a convolution of the conduit. The body of water in each turn has, as is shown, both ends horizontal, for, the water and air columns beingunequahwhen the air is compressed a tendency is created of holding the water back, causing it to be higher on the rising side than on the other. The air confined at B will rise into channel F against the inside periphery of the conduit at C, which, owing to its rounded shape and the natural tendency of the air to seek the highest point, it will follow in a constant thin stream instead of being distributed through the water along the entire surface of theinner periphery of the conduit, which would be the case if the latter were flat. A V-shaped inside periphery (like partition 13) would even suit my purpose better. as it would cause the stream of air to be still thinner, the reasons for not employing same being merely ease in manufacture. When the stream of air has reached the point E instead of during its upward course passing through the entire volume of water and carrying some of it along, it will strike the partition 13, which for the same reasons stated above it will follow ina thin stream until it rises beyond the upper level of the water,where it mixes with the preceding column of air.

The various parts of the conduit'being secured together, as heretofore described, the whole is mounted upon a shaft 14: and secured thereto by suitably-located flanged collars 15. The sides of the device are furthermore strengthened by a number of radial ribs or spokes 16, which are secured to the side plates 9 and 9 and which extending beyond the outer surface of the conduit afford means for fastening float-boards 17, which extend the entire width of the device, the whole forming an undershot-wheel, which may receive a rotary motion by being placed in a running stream of water. To operate the wheel, I erect asuitable framework 17-above or in the stream the water of which it is desired to elevate. BearingboXes 18 are secured to the framework to support the shaft 14:, while a roller-bearing 19 may be applied at the end of the shaft to prevent the latter moving longitudinally in that direction by the action of the water in the device. The wheel thus being put in place in proper relation to the current, the force of the stream acting on the float-boards will cause it to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. Dipper while passing through the water will be filled through opening 10 and will discharge its contents into the conduit during its upward movement. Dipper 10, extending backward from the opening of the conduit, will form a pocket 10 which will hold a por tion of the water until the dipper has reached its highest point, thus allowing the water to flow gradually out of the dipper during half of the revolution of the wheel. The dipper,

as shown in the drawings, extends'sidewise l underneath the adjoining convolution of the conduit and will contain a sufficient quantity of water to fill onehalf of a convolution during each revolution of the wheel. As the water stands lower on one side of the floatboards than on the other, it is essential that the inlet 10 should be on the upper surface of the dipper to prevent its contents flowing back into the water after the lowest point is passed.

Concentric to shaft 14 and projecting into and through the discharge-opening 12" is a cylindrical casting 20, provided with a circular flange 20, by means of which it is secured to the side of chamber 12, and with a sleeve 20 which fits around shaft '14 and is secured thereto by a set-screw or other suitable means. The end of cylinder 20 projecting beyond the chamber is open, while its opposite end is provided with a number of apertures 20. The open end of casting 20 projects into a stationary chamber 21, which connects with standpipe 22. Chamber 21 being stationary and the casting rotating with the conduit, it is necessary to provide means for preventing l'eakage of water. To this end I have made use of the following contrivance: An annular ring 23, made of Babbitt, or other antifriction material and diametrically corresponding to the open end of casting 20, is provided with a metal sleeve 24, which slips over the outer periphery of the casting, holding ring 23 in place against its end. A ring 25, made of rubber or other flexible material, the inside diameter of which has been made a trifle smaller than the outside diameter of sleeve 24, is snapped over the latter and against the inside surface of the side of chamber 21, preventing by its friction the rotation of sleeve 24 and ring23. Ring 25 being constantly exposed to the pressure of thewater in chamber 21 forms an air-tight joint and is keptfrom being forced outward by a flat metal ring 26, which, being placed around sleeve 24, extends between the side ofchamber 21 and ring 25. A similar arrangement is applied on the opposite side of chamber 21 to prevent leakage of water around shaft 14. A metal ring 27 is in this case secured to the shaft, Babbitt ring 23 and sleeve 24 fitting against and over same. A flexible ring 25 forms the watertight joint, while the ring 26 prevents outward movement of ring 25. 1t will be noticed that the water-tight joints arranged as shown allow a certain movement of the va.

rious parts, which insures constant alinement.

Between chamber 21 and stand-pipe 22 I have located a cylindrical device 29 forthe purpose of taking air out of the water entering from the conduit and redistributing it through the water in small quantities before it enters the stand-pipe. When the standpipe is directly connected to chamber 21, the air entering with the water rises rapidly in large quantities through the water to the surface. Owing to the fact that small bubbles will naturally rise slower that large ones, they will, instead of going rapidly through the water, carry the water with them, to the effect that the water will rise to a higher elevation when the air is distributed in minute quantities. Air-distributor 29 is composed of two concentric cylinders 30 and 31, the outer one 30 being closed at the bottom except where it is connected with chamber 21. It has a coneshaped upwardlyextending top 30, which connects with the stand-pipe 22. The inner cylinder 31 is suspended inside the outer cylinder by brackets 31or other suitable means, leaving an annular space 31 between the two cylinders. Cylinder 31 is open at the'bottom and has a cone-shaped top 31, which is provided along its periphery with a number of small holes 31 hen Water and air enter cylinder 30, the water will rise through the annular space 31 into the stand-pipe, while most of the air rises inside of cylinder'31, from where it escapes in small bubbles through the holes 31", mixing with the water which passes over the cone-shaped top 31. As the quantity of air inside cylinder 31 increases in relation to the speed with which it enters from chamber 21, while the quantity of water inside said chamber decreases in the same ratio, the pressure of air against holes 31*" will become greater, with the result that the bubbles Will pass more rapidly into the water, and the discharge of air into the water will increase in proportion to supply the increased amount of water flowing through the standpipe. To keep the water from obstructing the passage of the air by splashing against the holes 31"", 1 have provided three diaphragms 32, 33, and 34. The lower one, 32, being of less diameter than cylinder 31 is secured thereto by brackets 32, the air rising through the annular space between the two. Partition 33 is provided with a number of small holes through which the air has to pass on rising, while the upper diaphragm 34 has a cylindrical extension 34, which communicates with the air-chamber 31. As the holes in chamber 31 will in many cases not exceed the size of a pinhole, there is great danger of their closing up on account of rust, dirt, &c. This may be prevented by boring the holes in a strip of silver or other non-corrodible material 35, which is secured between cylinder 31 and top 31, as shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, I wish it understood that the details as set forth in the specification and drawings may be varied without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and that although 1 make my conduit preferably as described I may change its transverse sectional form.

nected by a continuous helicoidal flanged partition winding through the annular space between them, its flanges being placed between the laps of the helicoidal plates forming the cylinders, substantially as described.

2. In a device for elevating water, a rotatable helicoidal conduit, having an inlet at one of its ends and connected with a stand-pipe at its opposite extremity, said conduit being composed of two concentric cylinders, composed of helicoidal strips, connected by a continuous helicoidal flanged partition, the strip composing the inner cylinder being curved laterally for the purpose specified.

3. In a device for elevating water, a rotatable helicoidal conduit, having an inlet at one of its ends and connected with a stand-pipe at its opposite extremity, said conduit being coinposedv of two concentric cylinderscomposed of helicoidal strips connected by a continuous helicoidal flanged partition, the outer and exposed portions of which are curved laterally, substantially as described.

4. In a device for elevating water, the combination of a rotatable helicoidal conduit, having an inlet at one end, its other extremity being connected with a stand-pipe, with suitable means for preventing a backward flow of water, substantially as described.

5'. In a device for elevating water, a rotatable helicoidal, rectangular conduit, having a concave side, a partition extending inside said conduit, close to said concave side, one of the ends of the conduit being open, while its opposite extremity is connected ..with a standpipe, substantially as described.

6. In adevice for elevating water a rotatable helicoidal conduit, having one open end, while its opposite end is connected with a stand-pipe and a channel extending along one of its sides and communicating with said conduit, substantially as described.

7. In a device for elevating water, a rotatable, helicoidal conduit, having an inlet at one end and connected to a stand-pipe at its other extremity and a partition extending through said conduit, substantially as described.

8. In a device for elevating water, in combination, a helicoidal conduit forming the wall of a hollow cylinder, plates closing the ends of said cylinder, a centrally-located shaft supporting said cylinder, arms radiating from said shaft along said end plates and floatboards secured to the projecting extremities of said arms, substantially as described.

9. In a device for elevating water, the combination of a rotatable, helicoidal, conduit having an inlet at one end and connected with a discharge-pipe at its opposite extremity, with means for causing a constant flow of air and water from the conduit into the dischargepipe, substantially as described.

10. In adevice for elevating water, a shaft supported in suitable bearings, a helicoidal conduit mounted on said shaft one of its ends being provided with an inlet, while its opposite extremity terminates in a discharge-chamber surrounding said shaft, a discharge-opening in the side of said chamber and around said shaft, a cylindrical conduit placed in said opening and secured to said shaft, and projecting into a stationary chamber, a ring engaging the end of said cylindrical conduit and having a sleeve, surrounding said conduit, a flexible ring engaging said sleeve and the side of said stationary chamber and means for limiting the outward movement of said flexible ring, substantially as described.

11. In a device for elevating water, a shaft supported in suitable bearings, a helicoidal conduit mounted on said shaft, a stationary chamber connected with one extremity of said conduit, the shaft passing through and extending beyond said chamber, a collar secured to said shaft, a second collar surrounding said shaft and engaging the first one, a sleeve on said second collar surrounding the first collar, a flexible ring engaging said sleeve and the side of said chamber and means for limiting the outward movement of said ring, substantially as described.

12. In a device for elevating water, the combination with a spiral pump of a chamber interposed between the outlet from said pump and the stand-pipe, a second chamber, suspended inside the first one, said second chamber being open at the bottom and provided with a number of apertures in its top, substantially as described.

13. In a device for elevating water, the combination with a spiral pump of a chamber interposed between the outlet from said pump and the stand-pipe, a second chamber, suspended inside the first one, said second cham her being open at the bottom and provided with a number of apertures in its top and means for preventing water reaching the inside of said apertures, substantially as described.

14. In a device for elevating water, the com bination with a spiral pump of a chamber interposed between the outlet from said pump and the stand-pipe, a second chamber, suspended inside the first one, said second chamber being open at the bottom and provided with a number of apertures in its top, one or more diaphragms in said second chamber constructed so as to prevent Water reaching the inside of said apertures, substantially as described.

15. In adevice for elevating water, the combination with a spiral pump of a chamber interposed between the outlet from said pump In testimony WhereofIhave signed myname and the stand-pipe, a second chamber, susto this specification in the presence of two subpended inside the first one, said second charnscribing Witnesses.

her being open at the bottom and having a GEORGE K. OSBORN. separated cover and a perforated strip of non- Witnesses:

corrodible metal secured between said cover HERMAN (J. SHAY,

and said cylinder, substantially as described. K. M. STUMP. 

